BBC Sports Matchday Musings: Sunderland rediscover the winning formula as Watson shines!

In a gritty affair played in atrocious conditions, Sunderland secured a confidence-boosting victory thanks to the young winger. Phil West looks back at the game.

Amid a peculiarly dismal run of recent results and the issues that have arisen as a result, two aspects of Sunderland’s current position appear to be disregarded. The first is that Saturday’s gritty victory over Stoke City maintained what appears to be an ever-increasing unbeaten home record (getting the better of the Lads on their own turf is proving to be fiendishly difficult this season, something that should not be overlooked), and the second is that we are now becoming a byword for the development of talented, raw, and hugely exciting left wingers.

As an icy wind swirled around the Stadium of Light and relentless rain soaked the hardy matchgoers in the front rows of the lower bowl, Tommy Watson provided further proof of his own burgeoning talent, as well as more evidence that Sunderland, through himself, Romaine Mundle, and the now-departed Jack Clarke, truly understands the progression of players in that position. Watson’s goals, the first of which came just seconds after Lewis Koumas gave the Potters the lead after his initial attempt was saved by Anthony Patterson, were only one aspect of an exceptionally impressive performance by the homegrown winger.

After being deployed on the wrong side against Preston and having a difficult evening against West Bromwich Albion, Watson’s two most recent appearances have felt like true breakthrough performances, and it’s safe to say that his rapid progression from U21 football to the senior ranks is now confirmed. Overall, this was a classic early December Championship game, with the weather turning it into a battle of wills and the Lads mustering the tenacity required to win. After a troubling winless streak, the victory was far more significant than the aesthetics, and while by no means perfect, winning in such style will only benefit us as we aim to keep up with theleague leaders.

Our first-half performance was fantastic, with numerous chances and exciting sequences of play as Watson and Patrick Roberts lost no time in driving at the Potters’ defence whenever they had the opportunity. Aside from Koumas’ goal, Stoke barely threatened, but Viktor Johansson’s strong performance kept them in the game, even after losing quickly after taking the lead. Defensively, we weren’t quite at our best on Saturday (understandable given Chris Mepham’s absence), and Alese appeared uneasy in filling in for the fit-again Dennis Cirkin at left back, but he did make some promising forward runs and regularly provided an outlet for the impressive Watson.

If there was one major source of frustration on Saturday, it was our failure to convert the opportunities that presented ourselves. Had Watson’s shot not hit the post and Wilson Isidor been able to convert a great chance after being fed by Alese, the half-time break would have been far more comfortable, but wastefulness was costing us, and even though both sides were well in the game, it felt as if a momentary slip or individual error could make the difference.

As the second half wore on, you got a sense that maybe this was to be another edition of ‘We battered them, but we just didn’t take our chances’, and when Eliezer Mayenda saw a goal ruled out for offside, it felt as though this wasn’t going to be our day and that more vital points would be dropped.

Fortunately, this time, we were able to change the script, as Watson lashed the ball home after some excellent work by Roberts, expelling all of the tension that had built up during the second half and ensuring that we capitalised on Friday night’s draw between Burnley and Middlesbrough, keeping ourselves at the very heart of the promotion race in the process.

Régis Le Bris has shown no symptoms of fear in recent weeks, despite our poor form, but this would have felt like a huge boost for the always-composed Frenchman. It’s true that he still has puzzles to solve and tough decisions to make about individual players in the coming weeks, but as we enter a period of the season in which our promotion credentials will be tested on a regular basis, this was the ideal homecoming for the Frenchman and his tenacious, talented team. Now it’s time to thaw and enjoy the three points!

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